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FrozenGate by Avery

Build or Buy?

I agree with awillis. I avoid ebay for laser diodes (and goggles) entirely since the quality is unknown. FastTech(like what awillis linked to) is a highly reputable site that I have purchased green modules from and always ended up getting over ones. For the future I suggest sticking to websites with real reputation. A lot of us around here even know the owners of some of the large laser websites by name as well as they even come here to talk to us. Anyone can go on ebay and grab a bunch of overpriced and unknown quality laser parts but with LPF you have a resource to getting something far better.
 





well I'm sure he will be underwhelmed buy his purchase and probably kill the module with his wall wart but i told him exactly what i would have used to build a simple green labby but what would i know!
 
Relax, both of you. Okay, I admit it was probably a dumb idea to get the Ebay one, I might even go and purchase that Fasttech one now that you recommend. awillis, you do know a lot, sorry if it seems that I wasn't listening to what you were saying, it was just because Laik was listening to me and knew I wanted a laser that could plug-in. Because my parents aren't going to let me break the law. :(

Do you think THIS module would be okay? :)
 
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OK but I know your country's laser laws better then you and your parents and just because its ran off battery's doesn't make it illegal. A handheld laser in one the contains all of the components Including battery in a handheld unit easy to carry unit.

As for the module get the 50mW you won't regret it! Also pick up the battery holder well your there. I've used this setup in a spiro graph before and its very good, and a safe setup if you get safety glasses.

Also its worth mentioning that when checking out don't forget "TENOFF" coupon code to say you 5%.

Andrew
 
If a vet recommends something and then i do, i would go with with the vet ;) I do agree with you guys ebay isn't very good or reputable for lasers but this is his first build and he doesnt need fantastic quality. Those safety glasses i linked would be ok for that 30mW module but i would get better glasses for that fasttech module. Im sorry guys if i was trying to say you are wrong or something by continuously recommending him stuff on ebay. He wanted something that was 30mW and a wall adapter so i gave him links to a 3V wall adapter and 30mW module. I should ley you know gun, i havn't ad any experience with these products except the safety glasses and the us to au wall adapter. Too much power (100mW) for a first time laserer can be a bit much. I am sure you build will go smooth, if not we are all here to help you :beer:
 
awillis2589 said:
OK but I know your country's laser laws better then you and your parents and just because its ran off battery's doesn't make it illegal. A handheld laser in one the contains all of the components Including battery in a handheld unit easy to carry unit.

As for the module get the 50mW you won't regret it! Also pick up the battery holder well your there. I've used this setup in a spiro graph before and its very good, and a safe setup if you get safety glasses.

Also its worth mentioning that when checking out don't forget "TENOFF" coupon code to say you 5%.

Andrew
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If you can give me a link proving what you say is right then I will believe you but from what I can understand, handheld is when it doesn't have to be plugged in for use. Although I do hope you are correct.

Also with the module, I'm going to get the 30mW. I assume it's going to be overspec anyway and I really don't want anything too powerful for my first build, I hope you can understand that. Thanks for the coupon code! Is the 30mW fasttech one I linked before a good module?

Thanks,
Gun
 
I forgot all about fasttech until awillis2589 mentioned it. If you haven't ordered the module yet, get it from fasttech, they are a reputable company. The module will probably be overspec as well. I got to re-wire my brain to remember to go straight to fasttech next time i need a green module :D If you have orderd the module off ebay already you might be aple to get a refund if he hasnt sent it yet.
 
Laik said:
I forgot all about fasttech until awillis2589 mentioned it. If you haven't ordered the module yet, get it from fasttech, they are a reputable company. The module will probably be overspec as well. I got to re-wire my brain to remember to go straight to fasttech next time i need a green module :D If you have orderd the module off ebay already you might be aple to get a refund if he hasnt sent it yet.
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I have already ordered it but I think I'll just let it come and also get a fasttech one, that way I have a spare for future builds or if something goes wrong. I won't be able to order the fasttech one for 3-5 days because I need to wait for my money to transfer into my paypal. :)

Also Laik, what do you think's correct regarding the laser laws? Is awillis right? If so could you provide a link or something proving it?
 
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Any of the FastTech modules would work great. IMO, the 50mW version is worth the extra couple dollars but its obviously up to you. As long as you use your head you would basically be safe with any 532nm laser. The main reason being they are so insanely bright to human eyes that you would know instantly if it was too bright to look at. The wavelengths that are not very visible to your eyes like 405nm, 445nm, 660nm are far more dangerous because they can be many times more powerful yet look dimmer.

As for the law, if you built the laser on batteries but didn't put the batteries inside the case with your module/heatsink and instead had them on a wire like 6+ inches long in a separate box and made the cable capable of being plugged and unplugged that would not be a handheld. The whole point would be that it would be too large to fit in a pocket and used with one hand.

A laser based off a wall adapter is not a bad idea though but I would suggest using higher grade components and the price would go up a little. I would get a wall adapter capable of about 9V 1A and then get a constant current constant voltage buck driver and use that to set exactly what you are feeding the module. That way you know exactly what it is receiving. Here is one of the drivers I am talking about and have several of: DC DC Buck Converter Module LM2596 Constant Current Voltage Adjustable Module | eBay


You said you don't have a multimeter? I my honest opinion(not trying to be mean just being honest), if you are not willing to buy even a cheap multimeter, this is very much not the right hobby for you. That's one of the most basic and essential tools for anyone doing anything with electricity. Here is a multimeter I have bought and used before and it worked amazingly well:
Buy 3.0" LCD Handheld Digital Multimeter (Voltage + Current + Resistance + Temperature / 1*6F22)
 
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Good idea on getting that second driver apex! Like awillis2589 said (i think, someone else might of said it) for all we know it could be 6V. What apex is saying about running off batteries but outside the box and stuff makes sense, i think thats what awillis2589 was trying to say but we just needed it explained more. I would definitely get at least a cheap multimeter as well. Asking a lower rank member like me to see if a vet is correct about something will probably get them G'd up :D haha
 
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ApexProxy said:
Any of the FastTech modules would work great. IMO, the 50mW version is worth the extra couple dollars but its obviously up to you. As long as you use your head you would basically be safe with any 532nm laser. The main reason being they are so insanely bright to human eyes that you would know instantly if it was too bright to look at. The wavelengths that are not very visible to your eyes like 405nm, 445nm, 660nm are far more dangerous because they can be many times more powerful yet look dimmer.

As for the law, if you built the laser on batteries but didn't put the batteries inside the case with your module/heatsink and instead had them on a wire like 6+ inches long in a separate box and made the cable capable of being plugged and unplugged that would not be a handheld. The whole point would be that it would be too large to fit in a pocket and used with one hand.

A laser based off a wall adapter is not a bad idea though but I would suggest using higher grade components and the price would go up a little. I would get a wall adapter capable of about 9V 1A and then get a constant current constant voltage buck driver and use that to set exactly what you are feeding the module. That way you know exactly what it is receiving. Here is one of the drivers I am talking about and have several of: DC DC Buck Converter Module LM2596 Constant Current Voltage Adjustable Module | eBay


You said you don't have a multimeter? I my honest opinion(not trying to be mean just being honest), if you are not willing to buy even a cheap multimeter, this is very much not the right hobby for you. That's one of the most basic and essential tools for anyone doing anything with electricity. Here is a multimeter I have bought and used before and it worked amazingly well:
Buy 3.0" LCD Handheld Digital Multimeter (Voltage + Current + Resistance + Temperature / 1*6F22)
Click to expand...

I'm going to go with the 30mW one which will probably be overspec to about 50mW anyway :p, it's because for my first ever build and first ever high-powered laser I just one that is not so powerful.

As for the laser with the seperate box, that's a very good idea! I'll probably do that for my next build and I'm sure you'll be able to help me out with that then.

I didn't say I wasn't going to buy a multimeter, I just said I'm not going to buy it right now since I don't have the money because I've just put in a lot of money towards a $1500 computer and because I'm also buying this laser as well as a soldering iron. If I enjoy this first build and I want to continue the hobby of lasers (I think I will ;)) then I will buy a multimeter before my second build.

Thanks very much for all the help :beer:
 
One and a half grand! You know how many lasers you could build? :p I get a laptop from my school so if i had that type of money, it would definitely go towards lasers :D
 
Laik said:
One and a half grand! You know how many lasers you could build? :p I get a laptop from my school so if i had that type of money, it would definitely go towards lasers :D
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Haha, I guess so :p. Yeah I also get a little laptop with school as well as my own laptop but I wanted a gaming PC :).
 
Aggh yes, games :D PM me your gamertag if you play xbox live :) Our laptops we get are pretty good for a school laptop. Hope you get your stuff before your birthday :beer:
 
Laik said:
Aggh yes, games :D PM me your gamertag if you play xbox live :) Our laptops we get are pretty good for a school laptop. Hope you get your stuff before your birthday :beer:
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I do play Xbox although I'm more interested in PC Gaming (Minecraft) lately. I'll PM you my gamertag. Yeah fingers crossed :).
 
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